Tank car



Octl. 12, 1937. i 1 M. D. swoRDs 2,095,460

TANK GAR Filed July 29, 1935 Z5 63 53 63 l (7 41.? 'a 9 20 m, Esi?" wg m 30 my Y INVENTOR M Z7, 5WD rds ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 12, 193,7

TANK UAR Michael D. Swords, ChicagoQIll., assignor to Gen-v eral Chemical Company; VNewlY ork,.N. Y., a corporationof New York Application July 29, iesagseriai No, 682,304 Y l Claims.

Ihis invention relates to'vents or breathing devices for tanks or other vessels adapted to be employed for storage ortransportationroi liquids. More particularly, theinvention is Ydirected to ,5 vents` designed for use in connection-With tank cars especially vthose lined With rubber or 'other-V non-corrodible material and constructed for transportation of corrosive liquids such'as hydrochloric acid.V

In rubber-lined tanks, theuormation of appreciable pressure or vacuum because of changes `in atmospheric temperatures or on account of suddenA shock is objectionable. larly true in the caseof tankcarswhich under usual conditions encountered in service are subjectedto relativelyrvvidely varying temperature conditions and to rough handling in transit. Construction costs of rubber-lined tank cars are high, and to a large extent the durability of the rubber lining is dependent principally uponthe adhesion of the rubber through a bond to the steel. While in transit, heavy shocks to which the cars are subjected cause the liquid contents to surge `from one 'end oi the tank to the other, setting up alternate pressure and vacuum which Ytogether with Vpressure and vacuum brought about by' atmospheric temperature changes, subject the bond holding `the rubber Vlining'to the steel tov severe `strains which eventuallyresult in failure of Vthe bondbetween the rubber lining and the steel shell. If an ordinaryvent were employed on a tank car "used for` shipment of a corrosive liquid such as hydrochloric acid, hydrochloric acid gas passing through the vent would be lost to the atmosphere,

o the exterior of the tank car dome and of the tank shell itself would be damaged by thecorrosiv'e action of the escaping gases, and the hazard aris ing from? acid splash throughthe vent WouldV be Alll) present at all times. Y Y Y Although itis to be understood the invention is Ldirected to vents which may be employed to ad- `vantage onnumerous types of tanks or vessels adapted for usci in storagelor transportation of `'various kinds of liquid substances, preferred embodiments of the invention as herein described are especially suitable for tank cars `used for trans- \-portation= ofV acids such as hydrochloric acid; -Withi.the latter particularly in view,'one ofthe principal objects of the-:invention lies in the provisioniof a ventdesigned particularly to over- Y Whilel in service. The invention also provides a -vent which avoids toa large degree loss'of acid as escaping gas, prevents damage to .the exterior This is particu- Y come the damage tothe tank car lining caused by Y the'creation of pressure orvacuum Within the tank metallic parts of the tank, and eliminates possibilitylof acid splash through the Vent. -It is a further object of the invention to provide a vent of` such nature that air drawn intothe tank to oiset vacuum is ltered to thoroughly remove Yforeign material of any objectionable nature and prevent admission ofthe same to the tank thus avoiding contamination of or deleterious effects on the product in thetank.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a vent Vdevice having a'chamber communicating With the inside of the tank and with the atmosphere, the chamber being of appreciable size and formed to hold packing or ltering material, the construction being such that gases expelled :from

the tank or drawn into the tank from the'atmosphere are caused to pass through the packing'ma'- terial and are thus filtered or strained by the packing material before ejection from or admission to the tank.

In one form of the invention, the chamber for Y the packing material is placed upon the upper end of a conduit or passage opening into the interior of the tank. The bottom of the chamber is formed by a perforated plate which supports the packing material and provides for free passage of .gases and/or. vaporsbetween the tankand the packing material chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the construction is such that there is additionally provided a baille between the packing material chamber and the 'inside of the'tank, the baille -being so arranged that liquid or spray particles are to a large .extent separated from the `gases passing outv through the vent and are returned to the tank. Y Y Y Further objects and features of novelty Will be apparent from the following descriptiontaken in connection vvith :the accompanying drawing, in'which 1 Y Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a vent comprising a preferred embodiment of `the invention;`

Fig'. 2 isaplan view of Fig. l;

,Figg isan enlarged detail in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a plan detail of a rubbercovered locking spring, and' Y -S l Fig. 5 is an elevation on a reduced'scale of a portion of a tank to which the vent device of the invention may beapplied.

'Referring toV the drawing, particularly Fig. 5, Vreference numeral Ill indicates the top of .theV `dome of a rubber-lined tank of the type which may besupported on rolling stock. The upper edge `of the dome terminates in a horizontal flange `Il to which the dome cover l2 may be bolted or otherwise attached. Projecting up- V,55

wardly from the dome cover are cylindrical members I3 and lli, the upper end of member I3 being shown in vertical section in Fig. 1. Members I3 and lll are provided with outwardly turned flanges I8 to which nozzles generally designated by reference numerals 26 and 2l may be detachably connected. It will be understood the inner surfaces of the dome, the dome cover and cylindrical members I3 and I4 are suitably rubber-lined as is customary in the art and indicated at 22.

Referring to Fig. 1, the nozzle 25 comprises al tube or pipe section 23 to the ends of which are welded discs or rings forming lower and upper anges 2li and 25. As shown in Fig.'1, nozzle 2i! is covered both inside and out as indicated at 26 with rubber or other acid resistant material. Nozzle 2@ is removably attached to member I3 by bolts 28 passing through flanges 2d and I8. A soft rubbergasket 3G may be interposed between the upper surface of ange I8 and the lower face of iiange 2li to afford a tight joint.

Mounted on the top of nozzle 20 is a vent cap 32 which may be made of hard rubber or other suitable material. The cap comprises principally an elongated section or casing 3l! forming a cylindrical chamber 35 which is filled with porous packing material 38 such as relatively small pieces of sponge rubber. Formed integrally on the lower end of section Sil of the cap is the disk or flange i8 for attaching the cap to nozzle 2) by bolts l2 passing through cap ange fl and nozzle flange i5. Resting on the upper Vface of ange iii) is a soft rubber gasket lili providing a cushion for a metallic washer d against which the heads of bolts l2 are drawn. On the underside of flange 25 are a sectional soft rubber gasket li-'I and a sectional metallic washer i9 affording a bearing surface for the nuts on the ends of bolts 52. A soft rubber gasket 55 provides a tight joint between the cap 32 and the nozzle 25.

Cut in the inner surface of disk lil is a cylindrical section 52 having a diameter slightly greater than that of chamber 35. Section 52 terminates in a shoulder 53 forming a seat for flange 55 of a hard rubber cup 5G. Bearing against the under face of flange 55 is a hard rubber disk or baifle plate 58 which may conveniently be held in place by a rubber covered spring 59, shown in Fig. Ll, removably seated in a groove 6i) in the face of cylindrical section 52. Cup 56, disk 58 and spring 5I) together form a support for the packing material 33 in chamber 35 which is in communication through passage 23' with the interior of the tank.

As shown more particularly in the detail of Fig. 3, passing through the center of cup 5S is an opening or perforation 62. The disk 58 is provided adjacent the circular edge with a plurality of smaller openings S3 positioned so as to be out of vertical alignment with the opening 62 in cup 56.

The top of the vent casing terminates in a nob or projection S5. Communicating with chamber 35 and extending vertically through the center of the nob is a passage G6 opening into a horizontal conduit 6l passing diametrically through nob 65, passages 66 and 61 together providing communication between packed chamber 35 and the atmosphere. k

Referring to Fig. 5, nozzle 2l, which may be the upper end of a discharge pipe 7i! extending to the bottom of the tank, for example as shown in Tiley U. S. Patent No. 1,745,065, January 28, 1930, carries in the upper end a flange 'Il to which a blank ange 'I2 or the end of a discharge hose line may be connected.

When the vent device of the invention is applied to a tank car such as shown for example in the Tiley patent, the tank may be conveniently loaded with acid through member I3. To load the car, bolts 28 are. withdrawn permitting removal of flange 24, it being unnecessary to break the joint between flanges 25 and 40. The acid loading line, which may terminate in a piece of hard-rubber pipe or rubber hose, is inserted in the dome through member I3, air displaced from the tank during loading escaping through member I3. After car is loaded, the joint is made up between anges i8 and 23 by insertion and tightening of bolts 28.

After the car has been` partially or completely filled, and nozzle 2S replaced, whether at rest or in motion, as explained above pressure or vacuum may be set up within the tank because of atmospheric temperature changes or motion of the car or both. By the present invention, any abnormal pressure condition is relieved by passage of gas out of or into the tank through the chamber 35. The latter is open to the atmosphere through passages 56 and 5l, and communicates with the interior of the tank through conduit 23.

The chamber 35 is filled with porous preferably acid-resistant packing material. In accordance with the invention, sponge rubber has been found particularly suited for this purpose. The sponge rubber is preferably broken up into small pieces` to provide more extensive contact surfaces. As the cross-sectional area of chamber 35 is lled with packing material, it will be seen that gases entering or leaving the tank through conduit 23', chamber 35, and passages E6 and B'I are caused to contact and pass through the packing and are emciently filtered thereby.

During ejection of gases from the tank, caused by increased pressure, the outgoing gas stream is likely to carry appreciable amounts of liquid particles and/0r acid mist, as well as true gases. lIhe staggered arrangement of openings 63 in disk 53 and opening 32 in cup 55 forms a circuitous passage for the,gas stream thus providing a baffling effect and to a large extent preventing passage of appreciable amounts of liquid particles into the chamber 35. In this manner the bulk of liquid splash which may accompany an outgoing gas current is returned directly to the tank. On the other hand, liquid particles which` may enter chamber 35 are filtered out of the gas by the large contact surface of the packing material 38 and drain back into the tank through openings 52 and 63.

ln actual use, particularly where the tank is used for storage or transportation of a liquid such as hydrochloric acid, the packing material 38 is likely to be damp, and contain a substantial amount of moisture derived largely from the acid gases in the tank. The moisture and the packing material together cause to a considerable degree condensation and absorption of acid mist and of hydrochloric acid gas as such and bring about return of acid as liquid to the tank. The invention is thus especiallyiadapted for use in connection with the transportation or storage of an acid such as hydrochloric acid normally a gas but shipped in a water solution. Moisture from the solution keeps the porous acid resistant packing material, such as sponge rubber or spun glass, in the chamber 35 in a condition suiiiciently saturated with moisture to absorb to a large extent eliminates acidsplash through thefvent.

escaping hydrochloric acid gas to return the same and thus the highlyrdestructive effect of acidY spray on the exterior surface of the car is prevented. Y

Another particular advantage arising from the use of the vent device of the invention has to do with the ltration of gas drawn into'the tank. When conditions are such that a vacuum is created in the tank, air is drawn into the interior of the tank through passages 66 and 61. Such air is caused to pass through the packing material and because of the large contact surface presented thereby, the air is filtered and foreign matter is prevented from entering the tank. In this connection, it is noted the arrangement of passage 61 is such that air is drawn into the vent Y cap in a direction other than verticallyV downward, this feature preventing dust and dirt from the atmosphere settling directly into vertical pas-V sage 66. These features 'are advantageous especially where the vent device is used in connection with tanks for storage or transportation of liquids of nature such that it is especially desirable to avoid contamination by impurities which may be in the air.

At destination, the car may be unloaded by application of air pressure, orthe acid might be syphoned out. If a syphon is to be used bolts 28 are removed, the joints broken between flanges I8 and 24, and the end of a hose or pipe isv pressure, the vent cap 32 is taken olf by withi drawal of bolts 42. Y The blind flange 12 is then removed, and the discharging line is connected to flange 1I. Theair line, which terminates in a flange, is'then connected to ilange 25, bolts 42 replaced, and the valve in air line opened to ad` mit compressed air in amount suilicient toV discharge contents through pipe 10 and the discharge line connected to ilange 1|. After unloading, the vent cap 32 and the blind flange are replaced, and car is ready for return.

The vent construction provided by the invention overcomes damage to the rubber lining in the tank arising from abnormal pressure conditions as observed above, to a large extent prevents damage to the exterior of the tank caused by the corrosive action of escaping gases, Y and Although the invention has been'described' as ap-` plied toa tank used for storage or transportation stances. It will alsobeunderstood other mae` terials maybe employed in the construction of all `parts of the device, and other suitable packing material may be used in place of sponge rubber.

I claim: e

1. The combination with a tank of a pipe section forming a passage communicating with the interior of the tank, acasing providing therein a chamber adapted to contain packing material,

` means for attaching the casing to the pipe section,

.whereby admission of liquid particles to the Ychamber is impeded, means for holding the plate and the baille in the casing, and a passage b'etween the chamber and the atmosphere.

2. The combination with a rubber lined tank ofV a rubber lined pipe section communicating with the interior of the tank, a casing of acid resistant material providing therein` a chamber, sponge rubber packing in the chamber, means for attaching the casing to the pipe section, a shoulder in the casing adjacent the pipe section, a perforated cup having a ilange engaging the shoulder, said cup being adapted to support the packing in the chamber, a baille plate the outer edge of which engages the flange on the cup, means for holding the plate against the cup, said baille plate having an opening out of alignment with a perforation in the cup, and a passage communicating at one end with the chamber and opening into the atmosphere oi the upward vertical.

3. The combination with a tank of a casing providing thereinV a chamber adapted to contain packing material, means for attaching the casing to the tank so as to afford a passage between the chamber and the tank, a perforated plate in the end of the casing adjacent the tank for supporting the packing material in the chamber, a baille between the plate and the tank having an opening out of alignment with a perforation in the plate whereby admission of liquid particles to the chamber is impeded, and a passage between the chamber and the'atmosphere.

4. The combination with a tank of a casing providing therein a chamb-er, sponge rubber packing in the chamber, means for attaching the casing Vto the tank so as to afford a passage between the chamber andthe tank, a perforated plate in the endY of the casing adjacent the tank for supporting the packing material in the chamber, a baille between the plate and the tank having an Vopening outof `alignment with a perforation in the plate whereby admission of liquid particles to the chamber is impeded, and a passage between the chamber andthe atmosphere.

MICHAEL D. SWORDS. 

